| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
1999 BMW 3-Series repairs by problem area
Engine (41%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (6%)
Brakes and Traction Control (4%)
Suspension and Steering (18%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (21%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)
Other (7%)
Chart based on 204 repairs.
1999 BMW 3-Series engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (5%)
$1000 - $2499 (9%)
$500 - $999 (17%)
$100 - $499 (50%)
< $100 (18%)
Chart based on 76 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
1999 BMW 3-Series
Engine not specified
| 101000 mi US $1 |
Replace Radiator. |
| 67000 mi US $1000 |
Failed t-stat in open position. Replaced entire cooling system. |
| 75000 mi US $220 |
Water pump failure |
| 127700 mi US $425 |
Clutch replacement |
| 139100 mi US $300 |
Vanos problem |
| 168000 mi US $328 |
replaced faulty lifters |
| 141300 mi US $400 |
Cracked coolant overflow tank. |
| 124620 mi €600 |
Main fuel jet electronics broke + fuel injector pump computer unit broke |
| 131440 mi €150 |
ignitor replaced |
| 132680 mi €350 |
Belt pulley replaced exhaust part replaced |
| 106000 mi US $70 |
E36 M3 Vanos seals replacement |
| 123300 mi US $250 |
thermostat replacement/fuel filter replacement/spark plug replacement |
| 109000 mi US $400 |
Radiator went out and shortly after the thermostat. First time I replaced either. |
| 131000 mi US $45 |
replaced transmission motor mounts engine running very rough, rpm severe vacillation; poor acceleration/power |
| 139500 mi ¤4000 |
engine mount, transmission mount |
1999 BMW 3-Series 4-door
6-cylinder manual 2WD
| 128000 mi US $140 |
Rear subframe/differential mounts (7 total) were replaced due to clunking noise from differential. Rear differential mount was extremely worn, front differential mounts slightly rotted. GUIBO was also very worn. |
| 130000 mi US $240 |
VANOS Solenoids went bad. Exhaust side was showing code P1523 (Actuator tight or jammed side b) Intake side was showing P1525 (open circuit). After replacing these both codes did not come back. I also did an oil change. Code P1520 came on after replacing VANOS solenoids. Not exactly sure of the cause, planning on replacing the exhaust CPS to see if this will correct the issue, as the current sensor is aftermarket. |
| 142000 mi US $130 |
Double VANOS unit has BUNA O-rings that have been proven prone to failure. Replaced with Viton, which removed code P1523. However, one code has not gone away. (P1520) Will be taking the unit out for inspection once again. |
| 142000 mi US $155 |
The Crankcase Ventilation system has failed. The pressure regulating valve that separates oil from the air has failed. Leaking oil and possibly has a vacuum leak. Parts ordered. |
| 143000 mi US $40 |
Plastic piston inside the exhaust side of the VANOS unit was stuck. There was some burrs that I smoothed out. Replaced plastic piston. Codes are now all gone. Repair successful. |
| 110000 mi US $600 |
Mechanic put too much oil in my car. |
| 111000 mi US $230 |
The electric cooling fan controller failed. Replaced fan - came as a unit with the fan shroud & PWM controller. |
| 152000 mi US $1400 |
Motor mounts replaced |
| 127000 mi US $650 |
The radiator cooling fan stuck "on" and would not shut off even when engine was shut down. It just continued to run. This would of course run the battery down, and had to be repaired. It had failed and was replaced. |
| 148180 mi C $100 |
had to replace thermostat |
| 126000 mi US $250 |
Engine was giving off burned oil smell. Replaced valve cover gasket. |
| 129000 mi US $269 |
Expansion tank ruptured and was replaced. Car had to be towed to shop. |
| 130000 mi US $4 |
Car overheated and was towed to mechanic. Bleed valve for cooling broke and was replaced. |
| 134700 mi US $700 |
Radiator had a leak and was replaced along with 2 hoses and temp sensor. |
| 154000 mi US $2800 |
Replaced clutch for the first time. Also new front rotors and new pads all around. |
| 108000 mi US $750 |
Noticed water pump bearing going, so replaced pump and hoses. Three days after replacing water pump, the expansion tank exploded, requiring a tow truck home, and several weeks of back/forth with the online parts dealers (no one locally carries BMW). |
| 140000 mi US $250 |
Vanos started making noise. Shop sez I'm not changing the oil often enough. And changed the oil. I'm still waiting to see if it actually fixed things. Update: not fixed. |
| 160000 mi US $200 |
Replaced aux air pump |
| 64000 mi US $385 |
Engine emissions light illuminated because of a bad cam sensor. The sensor was changed and engine emissions light was reset. |
| 142000 mi US $750 |
Redo seals on VANOS system. |
| 147300 mi US $800 |
VANOS system seals replaced |
| 108000 mi US $450 |
The reservoir cracked and spilled coolant. Towed car home replaced the reservoir, water pump, thermostat, hoses, and acc. belts. The car was due for the above mentioned service. |
| 116000 mi US $1100 |
Changed the notorious differential mount. Replaced differential with a 330 differential off of a 2004 300 ci. Changed Transmission mount with an M3 mounts. Inspection II performed. |
| 121000 mi US $900 |
Mass airflow replaced. Drive belt tensioner replaced. |
| 151000 mi US $110 |
Valve cover gasket was leaking. Valve cover replaced. The total amount of time taken with coil pack was less than 4 hours. Intermittent check engine light due to cylinder four coil pack intermittent failure. Coil pack replaced. |
| 155000 mi US $280 |
The car kept on showing low coolant level repeatedly despite adding coolant every other day. Upon an inspection, there was a hair line crack letting fluid to escape. Ordered part and replaced radiator. |
| 244000 mi US $250 |
Thermostat seal showed signs of wear, therefore I replaced the thermostat, water pump and serpentine belt while I was under the hood. The repairs were done during a BMWCCA DIY event and took 3.5 hours. |
| 249000 mi | The Motor mount on the drivers side was leaking, therefore I decided to change both of them out while I was underneath the bimmer. I also changed the oil as well. |
| 277000 mi US $200 |
Replaced Water Pump, thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses and finally the temperature sensor. |
| 278000 mi | Replaced the two pre-cat O2 Sensors. |
| 285000 mi US $200 |
I replaced the Double Vanos seals using the Beisan Vanos repair kit. The repair took 5.5 hours from start to finish including an oil, filter and valve cover gasket change. |
| 308000 mi US $500 |
Replaced cooling pipes. Replaced oil separator. Replaced camshaft position sensor (intake side). |
| 312000 mi US $547 |
oil housing gasket and oil line replaced successfully at Indy shop. |
| 324000 mi US $120 |
The pre-cat O2 sensors needed to be replaced so I purchased new ones and replaced the old ones. |
| 325000 mi US $600 |
Crank Case Venitilation system hoses replaced. |
| 336000 mi US $3000 |
Spun a bearing in the lower block, replaced the lower block. |
| 341000 mi US $150 |
Replaced the expansion tank and bracket including a cooling system flush. |
| 343000 mi US $215 |
Replaced lower radiator frame, heater control valve, fuel tank breather valve and thermostat to include a coolant flush. |
| 344300 mi US $160 |
Replaced the fuel breather valve. |
| 370000 mi | Vacuum leak discovered between the SAP and the motor. Repaired with a new segment of rubber vacuum line. CEL showed an O2 pre-cat sensor issue. Replaced both O2 pre-cat sensors. The earlier issue actually turned out to be the MAF sensor. Replaced it and problem is resolved. |
1999 BMW 3-Series 4-door
6-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 91760 mi C $1000 |
valve gasket cover needed to be replaced; valve gasket cover seal needed to be replaced. |
| 64700 mi US $100 |
Valve cover gasket leak resulting in burning oil smell emitting from exhaust header. Thermostat housing cracked at temperature sensor sending unit. |
| 181000 mi US $900 |
Replace cracked Radiator and hose. |
| 183000 mi US $200 |
Upper Radiator, cracked elbow. Replaced hose/elbow assembly Cracked Transmission Support-Mount - replaced |
1999 BMW 3-Series 4-door
4-cylinder manual 2WD
| 185460 mi €1700 |
Oil leakage from sump. Carter venting failed sometimes. O rings and gaskets where leaking due to wear. |
| 160580 mi | temp sender unit |
| 161800 mi | expansion tank replacement |
1999 BMW 3-Series 4-door
4-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 124000 mi C $3000 |
Timming belt broke, engine ovrheated |
| 47120 mi $420 |
Car towed to shop, radiator and pipe were replaced. |
1999 BMW 3-Series 2-door
6-cylinder manual 2WD
| 131440 mi C $1800 |
Spark plugs, broken oil filter housing and cracked oil drip tray. |
| 58000 mi US $90 |
Check engine light came on in November. OBD-II code for "Camshaft Position Sensor". Replace with OEM sensor and reset the CEL. Have been problem free for 2 weeks and counting. |
| 61000 mi US $180 |
The mechanic saw a leak at one of the hoses and plastic housing of the radiator, so he concluded that the radiator was cracked. Ordered an aftermarket aluminum radiator and replaced it. No problems after 3 weeks. |
| 79000 mi US $400 |
Heard whooshing air sound that is engine speed dependent. Replaced a fan clutch that had a leaking seal. Also replaced thermostat & housing, water pump, and accessory belts as preventative maintenance. |
| 104000 mi | water pump, thermostat |
| 45100 mi US $250 |
Check engine light - code - pre-cat O2 sensor slow responding. Replaced both pre-cat O2 sensors (car has 4 sensors total). Problem solved. |
| 182280 mi C $75 |
Replaced thermostat and coolant. |
| 96000 mi US $1300 |
leak in cooling system; part, tube and fluid replaced. |
See TrueDelta's information for all BMW models.
